Girls soccer: Curran sparkles despite 2-0 loss

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The unexpected occurred before Estancia High took on

nonleague visitor Calvary Chapel in girls soccer Tuesday. But, Karleen

Curran was ready.

Estancia sophomore goalkeeper Arwyn Knott injured her ankle during

pre-game warm-ups and could not play. Curran filled in and prevented a

Calvary Chapel rout, recording 15 saves in Estancia’s 2-0 loss.

The Calvary Chapel Eagles (6-3) picked up a goal in the early moments

of the game, off a penalty kick by Carlie Chiaravalloti, but Curran and

her teammates held Calvary Chapel scoreless through 70 minutes. With five

minutes remaining, Calvary Chapel’s Beth Krikorian made good on a

breakaway to secure the win.

However, Estancia first-year coach Tom Williams saw improvement in his

team that played without its best player, Arlis Reynolds, and dropped to

2-5.

Reynolds, a senior who was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League

player last year, paced the sidelines and basically served as Williams’

assistant throughout the contest.

“Today was fun because we saw improvement and (Estancia) played with a

lot more heart,” said Reynolds, who injured her ankle during the

volleyball season but will be ready when league play starts Jan. 8 at

Northwood.

Williams is anxious to get Reynolds back because she is gaining extra

knowledge by playing assistant coach.

With Reynolds out, Williams said Estancia focused on field awareness,

and the lack of it was the difference in the game.

“This is like our practice,” Williams said. “We need to raise our

awareness. We have three problems right now: trapping, passing and

positioning. Other than that we’re near perfect.”

Estancia had just two shots on goal in the second half, while Calvary

Chapel booted nine toward the host’s net. Curran, a senior who usually

plays midfielder, stopped eight. She received help from senior Melissa

Castellano, junior Alaina Sweeney and junior Ruth Chavero in the back.

In the 70th minute, junior Amanda Abbott stole a Calvary Chapel pass

and fed a nice pass in front of Chavero, who sped out on the breakaway.

With a defender at each side she sent a shot that sailed wide left of the

net and that was as close as Estancia got.

The Estancia Eagles also saw a scoring opportunity end unfortunately

in the first half. Less than a minute before halftime, freshman Elise

Carroll shot off a bounce toward Calvary Chapel’s net, but it was saved.

Estancia returns to action Thursday at 3:15 p.m., when it hosts Ocean

View, a team that will be in the Golden West League with Estancia next

year.